Western Garden Book (Hardcover)

~ Sunset Books (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Blending accurate information with an appealing, colorful design, Sunset has created an essential guide for all types of gardeners. Includes an encyclopedia with more than 6,000 entries, expanded plant selection guide, easy-to-follow techniques, climate zone maps, amd more. Over 2,500 illustrations, 1,600 in color. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

The Western Garden Book presents hundreds of pages full of gardening wisdom from the editors of Sunset magazine. This huge book appeals to western climate gardening enthusiasts, bringing them tips, advice, and information on the latest gardening tools and gear. This revised edition is a welcome update to the reference book that has served the needs of Western gardeners for over 50 years. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 624 pages
• Publisher: Sunset Pub Co; 6th edition (June 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0376038500
• ISBN-13: 978-0376038500
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (119 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #870,491 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 114 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The One to Have, April 7, 2002

By	booknblueslady (Woodland, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Western Garden Book (Paperback)

If you could only have one garden book and you live in the west, this is the one to choose. It is an absolutely indispensable tool for the novice and master gardener alike. Any question regarding a particular plant can usually be answered quickly and easily through this resource. As editor Kathleen N. Brenzel states in the dedication, "This book remains a no-nonsense garden guide for Westerners, built upon the rich legacy of previous editions." It is a guide designed purposely to bring gardening in the west into the new millennium .

One of my key questions before purchasing this book was if there were significant improvements over the 1995 which justified the expense of a new copy. That is a question which each individual should assess. The new 2001 edition has significant improvements over the 1995 edition. 2001 contains 768 pages as compared to the 624 of the 1995. The first section of this edition is "Gardening for the New Century" with a look to traditions of the past and ideas for the future.

The Sunset division of climate zones has always been meticulous and more precise than other zone guides. The West has so many micro-climates which are separated by short distances and differ by altitude, morning fog and delta breezes that it is important in choosing plants to know which are likely to survive in your zone. The big addition to the latest edition is that it is inclusive of Alaska, Hawaii and Western Canada. For gardeners who live in these areas, Sunset has now made their day.

The ever thoughtful Plant Selection Section has been reworked to include divisions for color, basic landscaping, special situation and problem solvers. The problem solver is particularly helpful including plants to use for dry areas, shade, seacoast and deer resistant plants.

The meat of the Garden Book has always been its encyclopedia and continues to be. When choosing a plant from a nursery this reference guide is critical. Editors took extra care to make this section even more attractive by including color illustrations of many of the plants. For each plant information included describes zones where they will thrive, exposure to sun, amount of water necessary and if the plant is poisonous.

The Practical Guide to Gardening section provides information on various gardening techniques, problems and pest. Information on weeds, gardening to attract wildlife and drip systems are included in this section.

The last two sections of the Western Garden Book are Public and Historic Gardens and the new Gardening Glossary which is quite helpful to the novice gardener.

The Western Garden Book continues to be an invaluable resource for gardeners of the west. Those who already have the 1995 edition but who feel the need to have all the latest in information and equipment should purchase this edition. Residents of Hawaii, Alaska and Western Canada should be thrilled with this edition. Anyone who is planning a new landscape would also be advised to have the most current version of The Western Garden Book.

Kudos yet again to Sunset for their excellent work.

60 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy the hardback version., June 21, 1998

By A Customer

Buy the hardback version because this book will get your fingers walking frequently. The first book I reach for and often the only one I need. For me it is particularly helpful for desert plant selection and descriptions, but any western gardner will find a wealth of information. There are 24 sections on plant selection for specific needs and situations including shade, color, site, fragrance, native, season, foliage, compatibility, birds/butterflies, and others. Color plates accompany many of the selections along with growing requirments. Double index of gardening topics and common/scientific names. Excellent sketches of 6000 individual plants with similar family members. Much peripheral info such as how to read scientific names, pest problems/solutions, resourses, fine tuning of climatic zones. This is a fine reference book. An excellent source for new and experienced gardners.

64 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything I was hoping Sunset would provide!, February 9, 2001

By	Laurie "lauriepietsch" (Santa Rosa, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Western Garden Book (Paperback)

I have anticipated this newest edition of "Sunset" for several years, and find it to be all that I have hoped it COULD be. As a nurseryperson fully aware of all the newer cultivars being made readily available to the public, I am very pleased to see that Sunset has obviously consulted with growers and distributors in order to provide information on many new genus and species available to the consumer. This newest edition contains a beautifully done introduction which defines gardening IN TANDEM with Nature in very inspiring form, complete with tantalizing photographs. The Plant Encyclodpedia now includes color in its renderings of plants, in addition to listing many "new" cultivars and charts for plant families with many cultivars. The special Guide to Plant Selection has been re-done beautifully with valuable enhancements to the previous edition. The re-worked Practical Guide to Gardening at the back has been done in a very comprehensive manner, providing many wonderful charts and graphics which "teach" effectively. No matter how many previous editions of Sunset you might own, adding this Millenium edition is well worth the investment. With this newest edition, it seems Sunset has finally caught up with the gardening times!